AUSTRALIA GROUP: ESTONIA SUPPORTS INFO EXCHANGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TALLINN 000322

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/NB, ISN/CB, EUR/PRA
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO AUSTRALIA GROUP COLLECTIVE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2017
TAGS: PARM PREL CBW EN
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA GROUP: ESTONIA SUPPORTS INFO EXCHANGE


Classified By: DCM Goldstein for reasons 1.4(b) & (d).


1. (C) On May 15, Poloff delivered reftel points to Riho
Kruuv, MFA Director for Strategic Goods Control Division,
and Tuuli Parnsalu, 3rd Secretary, and discussed at length
the upcoming Australia Group (AG) Plenary meeting, June 4-
7, and the need to share information on Russia's chemical
and biological weapons (CBW) programs and the effectiveness
of its export controls. Kruuv and Parnsalu said the
Government of Estonia (GOE) strongly supports the USG's
initiative to share information, however, they admitted it
has little information regarding Russia's CBW programs.


2. (C) Kruuv emphasized the shortcomings of Russia's export
controls mechanisms. While he admitted the GOE had no
"evidence" of WMD, CBW, or sensitive dual-use technology
being smuggled out of Russia, he said the GOE was deeply
concerned by the "political approach" Russia takes to
export controls and border security. "We regularly see
delays on the Russian border" and goods intended for export
to Estonia are frequently blocked "when Moscow wants to
send Estonia a political message," continued Kruuv. Aside
from the immediate impact Russia's actions have on
Estonia's economy, Kruuv emphasized that other countries
should worry that "this behavior reveals the lack of
integrity, reliability, and politicization of Russia's
export controls and border security structures."


3. (C) The GOE has not yet come to a position on Russia's
continued interest in joining the AG. While admitting that
Russia is an important country and is active in this area,
Kruuv said that Estonia is concerned over Moscow's
obstructionist behavior in other regional and international
fora.
PHILLIPS